To the Editor:
In 2016, the United States and 195 other countries committed to stopping greenhouse gas pollution. In the 2021 Climate Commitment Act, Washington State committed to do our part.
Initiative 2117 makes the opposite commitment. I-2117 aims to stop the Climate Commitment Act, and continue global warming pollution.
The Climate Commitment Act phases out pollution gradually, and runs an auction for who gets to release pollution, raising $1 billion each year. That $1 billion is already budgeted for 2025. Pages 21 through 25 of the Voters’ Pamphlet lists projects that I-2117 would defund: new school buses, bike lanes, walking trails, public transit passes, new ferries, EV charging stations, and more.
Over 500 organizations say, “Vote No on I-2117”: churches, doctors, nurses, labor unions, Indian tribes, Bill Nye, the Seattle Aquarium, the Woodland Park Zoo, and more.
11 organizations endorse I-2117, along with a hedge fund manager who paid
$6 million for I-2117.
I-2117 backers argue pollution fees increase oil company costs and cut into profits, unless oil companies raise gas prices.
It would be hard to tell what I-2117 does to gas prices. When costs get lower, oil companies like to keep prices high as long as they can.
It may even happen that prices go up, just not as much as they would have without I-2117.
You can vote “Yes” to try for cheaper gas. Voting “No” supports stopping greenhouse gas pollution, and protects $1 billion every year for Washington State.
Why to vote no on carbon tax repeal
